Spiritual Growth Retreat

United Methodist Women Western North Carolina Conference

June 12-13, 2015 Lake Junaluska, North Carolina

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Memorial Chapel is open during the retreat for a time of prayer and

meditation. Open your mind and heart to the renewing Spirit of God's hope. You may place your prayer request in the basket and take a request to give the gift of prayer to another.

Registration is in Harrell Center Auditorium from 1:00-6:30 PM on

Friday and before each session in Stuart Auditorium lobby. All are urged to register even if you are not staying on the Lake property.

Program Resources is beside Registration downstairs in Harrell Center Auditorium. Reading Program books, study books, leadership helps and Gift to Mission cards are there for purchase as well as free items. It will be open 1:00-6:30 PM on Friday and 7:30-8:30 AM on Saturday. Stop by and check out the resources and view the displays.

Meal Schedule at the Terrace and Lambuth Hotels:*

Dinner: 5:00-6:30 PM Breakfast: 7:00-8:30 AM Lunch: 12:00-1:30 PM

*Please allow those with ribbons on their nametags to break line if needed. They have duties for the retreat. Thank you.

An Offering for Mission Giving will be taken during the Second

Session. Checks should be made payable to WNCC UMW.

Dates to Remember in 2015:

Mission u at Pfeiffer University, July 16-19

Conference Annual Meeting at Lake Junaluska, September 11-13

Training for District Officers at Westford UMC, Concord, October 10

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Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you

without leaving happier.

Mother Teresa

2015 Spiritual Growth Committee Sandy Hieronymus, Chairperson, Ann Aldridge, Renee Hayes, Tonya Lanier, Martha Phillips, Jatana Royster, Joanie Strohm, Julia Willis, and Rebecca Wright

Thank you for silencing your electronic devices during all sessions. Please feel free to use them for scripture

reading and taking notes.

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Love as God Loves - Session One - June 12

Gathering Praise - 6:45 PM Rev. Mark Barden and Catherine Ritch

Welcome Tonya Lanier Conference President

Greetings from Lake Junaluska Dr. Jack Ewing

Executive Director, Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center

Announcements and Introductions Sandy Hieronymus Conference Spiritual Growth Mission Coordinator

*Call to Worship from Psalm 32 Lynda Morris

Dean, Mission u

Let all who are faithful offer prayers to God. God preserve us from trouble and surround us with Your steadfast love. Shout for joy, for happy are those who find God's love. Let us worship God whose strength meets us here.

*Hymn: Jesus Loves Me Page 191 The United Methodist Hymnal

Prayer Calendar and Opening Prayer Shirley Hafey

Metro District Spiritual Growth Mission Coordinator

Special Music

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11 Joanie Strohm

Blue Ridge District President

Message: Understand God's Heart for Us Rev. Toni Ruth Smith and in Us

*Hymn: Change My Heart, O God Page 2152

The Faith We Sing

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*Benediction Carolyn Briggs Uwharrie District Spiritual Growth Coordinator

Postlude

*Please stand as you are able.

++++++++ The Lake Junaluska Singers in Concert

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Love as God Loves - Session Two - June 13

Gathering Praise - 8:45 AM Rev. Mark Barden and Catherine Ritch

Announcements Sandy Hieronymus

*Call to Worship Rebecca Wright

Conference Mission Education and Interpretation Mission Coordinator

We are all one family, made in the image of God. We are all one family, all over the world. We are all one family, each unique, each special. We are all one family, brothers and sisters on one journey of faith. We are all one family, given gifts and talents to share. We are all one family, united in love, united in peace, united in Christ our Lord. Let us center ourselves for worship.

*Hymn: Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore Page 344 The United Methodist Hymnal

Prayer Calendar and Opening Prayer Margaret Hardy

Northern Piedmont District Spiritual Growth Mission Coordinator

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Love Offering and Prayer Martha Phillips

Conference Treasurer

*Offering Response: Give Thanks Page 2036

The Faith We Sing

Scripture: Psalm 136 Tracey Owens Blue Ridge District Spiritual Growth Mission Coordinator Patsy McNeely

Catawba Valley District Spiritual Growth Mission Coordinator

Message: Understand God is In It Rev. Toni Ruth Smith for the Long Haul

*Hymn: Love Divine, All Loves Excelling Page 384 The United Methodist Hymnal

*Benediction Barbara Crotts Yadkin Valley District Spiritual Growth Mission Coordinator

Postlude

*Please stand as you are able.

Love as God Loves - Session Three - June 13

Gathering Praise - 10:15 AM Rev. Mark Barden and Catherine Ritch

Announcements Sandy Hieronymus

*Call to Worship Julia Willis

Conference Vice President

Loving God, we come to you this day to offer you our praise, to declare again your mighty acts, to share together in the holy mystery of bread and cup, and to commit ourselves to your service. Come let us worship!

*Hymn: Great is Thy Faithfulness Page 140 The United Methodist Hymnal

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Prayer of Confession and Assurance of Pardon Esther Manchester Smoky Mountain Spiritual Growth Mission Coordinator

Leader: We are precious to God, but not perfect. Let us confess our sins before God and one another. Let us pray:

All: God of all, we confess that we love too few and too little. We fail to glimpse your image in each and every person. We

cherish our "own" but don't value others. We keep silent when we hear cries for help.

O God, in your tender mercy, Open our eyes to see every person as a reflection of you. Open our hearts to cherish each person as we would love

our own families. Open our mouths to speak your word of justice. These things we pray as your imperfect but precious

children, in the name of your beloved Child, Jesus. Amen

Leader: We have asked for forgiveness. Friends, hear and believe the good news of the Gospel: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Thanks be to God. (adapted from National Observance of Children's Sabbaths, 2014)

Hymn of Preparation: Take, O Take Me As I Am Page 3119

(sing twice, remain seated) Worship & Sing

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21 Sherry Summerlin

Appalachian District Spiritual Growth Mission Coordinator

Message: Understand It is the Journey Rev. Toni Ruth Smith of a Lifetime

Service of Holy Communion** Rev. Toni Ruth Smith, Celebrant Maureen Carr, Deaconess

Communion Music Video of How He Loves by the David Crowder Band

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Prayer After Communion: Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself to us. Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of your Spirit, to give ourselves for others, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

*Hymn: The Gift of Love Page 408

The United Methodist Hymnal

*Sending Forth Tonya Lanier

Postlude

*Please stand as you are able.

**Those who are gluten intolerant can receive a gluten-free wafer during Holy Communion at the station near the organ.

Faith without works of love

is the grand pest of Christianity.

John Wesley

If you really keep the royal law found in scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself,"

you are doing right. James 2:8

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- Special Thanks -

The Spiritual Growth Committee would like to thank the following individuals and groups for sharing their talents and gifts for this meeting:

All of the program participants All of the District Mission Teams for your help and support Members of the Conference Executive Committee The Lake Junaluska Assembly staff YOU for your dedication to United Methodist Women

Thank you for sharing in this Spiritual Growth Retreat.

Program Participants

The Reverend Toni Ruth Smith - Retreat Leader - Toni Ruth was born and raised in the Toe Valley Charge of the United Methodist Church in Avery County, NC. She graduated High School from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics before getting her BA in History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Toni Ruth is a 2001 graduate of The Divinity School at Duke University. Ordained as an Elder in 2005, Toni Ruth has served as an associate at First UMC in High Point and as the pastor of Hopewell UMC in Trinity. She currently co-pastors

Harrisburg UMC with her husband, Rev. Wesley Smith, with whom she has two young children. Like so many women, Toni Ruth seeks to follow Jesus in the way she juggles parenting, marriage, and career. She is particularly interested in how we cultivate a spiritual life with intentionality in the chaos of the day to day. Some of you might know her better as Martha Phillips’ daughter, a title she wears with much pride.

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The Reverend Mark Barden – Song Leader - Mark was born into a Methodist parsonage family and lived as a child throughout Western North Carolina. Following his college graduation, he was accepted as a Fellow for graduate study at The University of Mississippi where he later taught broadcasting and coordinated the state press association for high school newspapers and yearbooks. In 1982, he accepted a position teaching at Murray State University in Kentucky. During his teaching career, Mark accepted the call to ordained ministry, returned to North Carolina and completed ministerial studies at Duke University. Mark was ordained deacon in 1986 and elder in 1990. He has served several churches in our conference. In 2000, Mark was appointed Director of Mission/Outreach

for the Western North Carolina Conference. In June 2006, he was appointed as Director of Communication and Coordinator for Lay Ministries and Special Projects for the conference. He is currently pastor of First United Methodist Church, Elkin. Mark is working on his doctorate in Arts in Theology through Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. His wife, Barbara, is Minister of Education at Myers Park United Methodist Church. They have one son, Christopher.

Catherine Ritch - Musician - Catherine is a published composer and author of inspirational fiction, non-fiction and children’s books with 27 books currently in print. In addition to her role through the WNCC UMC as the Circuit Riding Musician, a position that allows her to serve globally through her writing, speaking and music, Catherine has served over 45 years as an Organist and Minister of Music in churches, taught music in a private school and entertained audiences around the globe in her travels. She is a frequent speaker/musician for national and international conferences in a variety of venues. Her title, Because He Lives, was on the 2012 United Methodist Women's Reading Program. She also enjoys writing her comedy series featuring Miz Eudora Rumph. Catherine, who

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lives in Stallings, NC, holds degrees in Church Music and Music Ed, and a Master’s degree in Christian Education. Her greatest joy, besides her family, is bringing hope, inspiration and laughter to those whom she meets in her travels and through her books. Having been introduced as an author, composer, comedienne, entertainer, inspirational and motivational speaker, teacher, musician and volunteer-in-mission, her favorite way to be acknowledged is “friend.”

The Lake Junaluska Singers, directed by Dr. Melodie Galloway, are a

14-voice professional ensemble, which serves as the Ambassador Choir

for the Southeastern Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church and of

the Lake Junaluska Conference and

Retreat Center. The group began in

1954 and has performed nationally

and internationally for conferences,

dignitaries, and major events. Their

music ranges from classical choral

and contemporary works to gospel,

folk and musical theatre styles. This

group has performed for the WNCC

UMW Spiritual Growth Retreat for

many years.

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Notes for Session One Understand God's heart for us and in us

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Notes for Session Two Understand God is in it for the long haul

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Notes for Session Three Understand it is the journey of a lifetime

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While at Lake Junaluska

Visit Memorial Chapel for prayer and meditation. Browse through the materials available in the Program Resources

area and purchase books and supplies for yourself and your unit. Enjoy the peace and beauty of the Susanna Wesley Garden. Sit at the foot of the Junaluska Cross or Amphitheater to rest,

meditate and worship, and thank God for His creation. Stroll around the lake on the walking trail. Enjoy the fragrance and beauty of the roses. Fellowship with your sisters in Christ. Make new friends while

cherishing your old friends.

The PURPOSE of United Methodist Women

The organized unit of United Methodist Women shall be a

community of women whose PURPOSE is to know God and

to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ;

to develop a creative, supportive fellowship;

and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church.

Visit our Conference UMW Website:

www.wnccumw.org

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